Improvement in stamp-cancelers



C. W. SALADEE.

STAMP-CANCELER.

Patented Aug.1. 1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CYRUS \Y. SALADEE, ()F PITTSBURG, PENNSYLYAXIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN STAMP-CANCELERS'.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [80,501, dated August 1, 1876; application filed December 16, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CYRUS W. SALADEE, of Pittsburg, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain Improvement in Postage-Stamp Uancelers, of which the following is a specification embodying my invention That the United States Government is being largely defrauded by the renovation and reuse of its postal stamps, owing to the pres ent unsafe and imperfect method of canceling the same, is a fact well known to the Government, as well as to the general public.

The nature of my present invention consists of a tool so made that by a single motion across the face of the stamp the surface of the same shall be so effectually scarified as to render the renovation and reuse of the stamp absolutely impossible, and this without the use of ink, and without the least damage to the contents of the letter or package.

I am fully aware that the idea of scarifying or defacing the surface of the stamp by means of a hand die, so arranged that when the stamp is struck the die revolves and tears the face of the stamp, is old, and that other like dies have been made for this purpose, and all alike have, so far as I am advised, proved a failure, for the reason, first, the operation depending upon striking the stamp with a violent blow, there is danger of injuring the contents of the letter; and, second, if the stamp is not struck fair and square with the face of the die, there is danger of cutting through the paper of the envelope, or abruptly tearing it, and to avoid which requires too much care on the part of the operator.

The objections above cited I propose. to overcome by abolishing the old and prevalent notion of striking the stamp with a handdie, or other like instrument, to effect the cancellation required. This I do by means of a hand tool, of such simple construction as to render it serviceable for years without once getting out of repair, and by which the slight est movement across the face of the stamp will most effectually scarifv and cancel it, so as to render its reuse literally impossible without easy detection.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete tool. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the cutting-point of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the tool as bold in operation, and Fig. 4 represents a piece of an envelope with the stamp attached and scariiied under the operation of my improved device.

A straight piece of cast-steel, about onefourth inch square, cut to the required length, is taken, and the end 0 formed and curved as seen in Fig. 1. The cuttingteeth D are formed on the raised edges, so as to admit of their cutting about the depth of the thickness of the stamp. The tool is then finished and tempered, and provided with a handle, B, as clearly shown in the drawings.

Both the outer edges of the point 0 being thus provided with cutting-teeth, and the face of the tool forming a gagespace, a, and being made in the segment of a circle, there is no nice calculation required in applying it to the face of the stamp, as it will cut in any position when properly held in the hand of the operator.

Of course, this is but one of a number of modifications my invention is susceptible of; for, in place of the two rows of teeth or cutters with central gage-space a, as shown in the drawings, only one might be madeto answer the purpose; or a number of rows of teeth might be employed in like manner with the gagespaces; also, the form of the teeth or cuttingsurface of the tool may vary, as circumstances require, or as future experience may dictate; also, the cutting-point of the tool need not necessarily be formed solid with it, as shown in the drawings, as it could be made separate from the body of the tool, and secured in position by a set-screw or otherwise; but I consider the form shown and described the best for all practical purposes.

I do not therefore limit -my claim to the form or arrangement of the teeth or cuttingsurface of the tool, as that may be varied, as already described, and in nowise effect the principle of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A postal-stamp canceler consisting of a foot, 0, having one or more rows of ratchetteeth parallel with the foot sides, a gagespace, a, or spaces on the surface thereof,

and :1 handle, 1;, forming ahnnd-tooi for scaria rising handle shank, as shown and d0- t'ying the stump Ivy lines made by a push scribed. mm'vment 0Y0! the stamp, and without in- GYRUS W. SALAUEE jury to the contents of the letter.

J. The (out (Y. provided with a row 01 rows 1 Witnesses: or muzlmi-ti-cth, 1), formed on the fame there- A. Boswon'ln, of, in umnbinalimi with a gage-space, a, and (J. [1. UARNES. 

